Tennessee Field Reports: Wheat Harvest, Row Crop Development Progressing Well

County Agent Comments

Tim Campbell, Dyer County
All crops progressing pretty well. Wheat harvest has made good progress but still not quite done. Producers working to get double crop soybeans planted behind wheat. Corn growing rapidly now with early signs of isolated fields near tasseling. Post application of herbicide sprays causing some issues with crop leaf burn on some applications. Crop insects remain fairly light at this time.

J. C. Dupree, Lauderdale County
The majority of wheat acreage has been harvested with producers slowing due to recent rains. Rains were needed for emergence of recently planted soybeans and other crops. Corn, cotton and soybeans are looking good overall. Weather has been very favorable for hay cutting with cattle and pastures in excellent condition.

Kenny Herndon, Carroll County
Farmers throughout Carroll County utilized favorable weather conditions this last week to harvest a large amount of wheat. Corn has begun tasseling, soybeans and cotton grew very well throughout the week. Some farmers were able to get their second cutting of hay this past week.

Jeff Via, Fayette County
The farmers in Fayette County have been busy harvesting wheat, planting beans, baling hay and spraying. Rain came in yesterday and more may be here this weekend.

Jeff Lannom, Weakley County
Hot, dry conditions have depleted top-soil moisture quickly and corn is beginning to suffer on droughty soils. Late week, scattered thunderstorms helped some areas while by-passing other areas of the county. Wheat harvest has advanced quickly with good to above average yields, while low test weight has been a problem for some producers. Soybean planting is on-going with a few producers having finished.

Richard Groce, Maury County
First cutting of hay is about complete. Hay yields appear to be average. Wheat harvest is well under way with better than average yields. Overall crops in the field look good. Pasture continues to grow and the quality looks good. Fruit and vegetables are doing well also. Overall a good production year so far.

Larry Moorehead, Moore County
We still have some fields too wet to plant. Wheat harvest is almost over and our yields are about 20 bushels below last year. We have some places that need rain. Our first cutting of hay is up with yields fifty to sixty per cent of normal. Hopefully we can have a better 2nd and 3rd cutting like last year.

Ed Burns, Franklin County
Dry weather to start the week allowed producers to make excellent progress toward harvesting wheat and planting beans. Several producers finished wheat harvest before showers and thunderstorms brought field activities to a halt. Most everyone got an inch plus of rain form storms on Thursday, with a few isolated areas receiving an additional one to two inches. About a third of the corn is tasseling.

A. Ruth Correll, Wilson County
Weather allowed field work through most of the week. Lots of hay producers were harvesting hay. Several folks reported they finally got their soybeans planted. Some folks that had not gotten their corn planted have switched to soybeans.

John Goddard, Loudon County
.2 in. rain this week. Spotty showers. Some folks received over 1 inch. Last corn will be planted this weekend. Some places just been too wet to plant. Some places really needing more rain as corn is twisting. Hay quantity is above last year in most places. Lots of hay has been rained on in windrows. Quality will be low.

James Blake Ramsey, Hawkins County
Still getting rain, producers are having a hard time getting a window to finish first cutting of hay.

General Comments

Wheat harvest was ahead of schedule, with soybeans, corn, and cotton progressing well. Some eastern counties had excessively wet soil that slowed hay harvesting and field work. Winter wheat yield was above average in most of the central and western regions. Pasture conditions were fair to excellent except in some eastern counties. Hay quality may have been affected by recent rains.